Takeaways from University of Cincinnati Bearcats' 64-56 loss to Ohio State Buckeyes

Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jarron Cumberland (34) rises for a shot over Ohio State Buckeyes forward Andre Wesson (24) in the second half of a college basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Bearcats, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

Most agreed that the atmosphere was electric and the Cincinnati Bearcats' shooting was terrible in UC's 64-56 loss to Ohio State in a men's season basketball opener Wednesday night, at newly renovated Fifth Third Arena.

With a sellout crowd of 12,012 watching and occasionally making it sound like the glory days of the former Shoemaker Center, UC shot just 27.4 percent from the field (17-for-62). UC coach Mick Cronin said he was more concerned about defensive lapses, including Ohio State shooting 55 percent from the floor in the second half.

Cronin's belief is that the offense will come if the defense helps make it so, but it did not add up Wednesday. Some takeaways from the game:

Shooting was almost historically bad: For a long while, UC was flirting with the worst single-game field goal percentage in school history. The record low is 15.6 percent against LaSalle in the 1948-49 season. By halftime, UC was shooting only 13.8 percent (4-for-29).

The Bearcats came somewhat back to the mean in the second half, shooting 39.4 percent (13-for-33). But that also is not good, leaving the Bearcats at 27.4 percent for the game.

How bad was it? UC was missing from near and far, throwing up airballs and other clunkers, and sometimes blowing easy layups.

Some observers were digging through the UC media guide to find what were the all-time worst Bearcats shooting percentages for one game. The list includes five games, with the lowest listed being a 24.3 percent game against Miami (Ohio), also in the 1948-49 season. So, the Bearcats did not crack the Bottom Five but came close.

Cumberland, then what?: UC knew it would face some offensive challenges this season, with swingman Jacob Evans III and forwards Gary Clark and Kyle Washington all gone. Those three combined to average 37.2 points per game last year.

Senior guard Cane Broome (7.9 ppg last season) was 1-for-10 from the field and scored only five points. Senior guard Justin Jenifer (4.8 ppg last season) also scored five points. Cronin said that inside players Scott and center Nysier Brooks (seven points Wednesday) also will eventually produce more.

"Tre Scott is way better than he played tonight," Cronin said. "He just is. But again, it's the first start of his college career. I think he'll get better as he gets minutes. Same with Nysier Brooks. It's a process, is what I would tell you."

Reserve players such as guards Keith Williams, Trevor Moore, Logan Johnson and swingman Rashawn Fredericks will also produce more with more minutes, Cronin said.

"I promise you that I'm right on what I'm telling you," Cronin said. "I promise you. Look at my track record. I promise you I know what I'm doing. I know everybody's gonna run out of here and say who's the second scorer? I understand that."

Defense was there, except when it wasn't: UC held OSU to 42.6 percent shooting, but Cronin was more concerned about the 55 percent the Buckeyes shot after halftime. That, and some other things that caught the coach's eye.

"We're not as good defensively as we were last year," Cronin said. "We had some terrible breakdowns. They did not give us easy baskets. We gave them too many easy baskets. Our post defense isn't what it needed to be. We had a guy play 28 minutes without a deflection."

UC trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half.

"When you're trying to fight your way out of that kind of deficit, you've got to make every shot," Cronin said. "But I give Ohio State credit. In a slugfest, you can't give away lay-ups and free throws. We don't have enough firepower right now on offense, but we're capable of being much better defensively."

Noteworthy: UC had a 26-game Fifth Third Arena winning streak snapped, dating back to January 2016. The Bearcats played the 2017-18 season at Northern Kentucky University while Fifth Third was being renovated.

The Bearcats lost their season opener for the first time in 11 years.

It was the first time Ohio State had played on UC's campus since 1920, a 35-13 OSU win. UC is now 4-7 lifetime against OSU.

UC began its 118th season of basketball, which debuted as a varsity sport in 1901-02. The Bearcats went 5-4 that season.

On deck: UC next plays next Tuesday, Nov. 13, at home against North Carolina Central (7 p.m.). Then the Bearcats will meet Milwaukee next Friday, Nov. 16, also a 7 p.m. home game.